Agriculture in Libya
By Malak Altaeb
Libya is a large North African country and has a desert with a high level of drought and limited rainfall. Annual rainfall is extremely low, with about 93 percent of the land surface receiving less than 100 mm/year. Consequently, agriculture is primarily dependent on irrigation. Groundwater represents the main source of water supply.
There are several challenges farmers and the agricultural sector face within Tripoli, Libya. Many farmers have postponed or stopped their agricultural activity due to an expanding gap between farmers and the local market needs. Also, the high dependence on foreign labor for agricultural work increased the pressure on farms owners and local farmers to meet food demand from local farms rather than relying on food imports and wasting the produce of farms within the district. Libyan agricultural production only meets 20% of domestic demand for barley and wheat (WFP & FAO, 2011).
According to the World Bank, import of goods and services accounted for 53.5% of the total GDP in 2019. Local market was limited and weak before 2011. Although post-2011 triggered a dynamic of change, it raised the level of challenges the sector is already facing. After the 2011 revolution, political and institutional instability reflected greatly on the economy as foreign currency prices increased drastically. As a result imported goods, specifically food commodities, increased in prices.
Therefore, there is a need to boost farming activity in Tripoli because few people can rely on farming as a main source of living. This means that the farming activity is considered to those who have been owning farms for years and it turned into a practice for the family. Some consider it the main source of living while others consider it as a side activity. Therefore, there is a need to understand what holds back farmers from performing full-time farming activities. An inclusive agribusiness model is essential to allow the integration of small farms holders in the market. This model requires the balance contribution of both the private and public sectors. It will also ensure the activation of the role of agricultural offices in municipalities for better coordination around Tripoli’s suburban areas and ensure the smooth process of production which covers the growing demands of citizens in the capital.